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'Citadel' a fitting sendoff for 'Mass Effect' crew

Sentinel & Enterprise

Updated:
03/17/2013 06:31:40 AM EDT

From day one, character interaction has been the defining strength of the "Mass Effect" trilogy.

With "Citadel" -- the final piece of DLC for "Mass Effect 3" -- developer BioWare gives fans a chance to bid farewell to their beloved crewmates, sending the series off on an endearing, albeit unusual, last hurrah.

In truth, "Citadel" ($15; PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360) feels more like two separate adventures than one cohesive story. With the Normandy in need of repairs and tension mounting over the impending Reaper invasion, Commander Shepard and company are ordered to take a bit of shore leave at the titular space station.

But wherever Shepard goes, trouble follows. Add another name to the list of bad guys who want the commander dead, then mix in some explosive gunfights in classic ME3 locations, and you have a recipe for a brief-but-entertaining mission to add to the overall story. "Citadel" doesn't particularly stand out when it comes to thrilling action, but it does offer a new area to explore and more of the same responsive combat that helps to make the series great.

The tone of these battles doesn't align quite right with the main campaign. Sure, Shepard's life is in danger and there's a plot to kill the crew, but since the fate of all organic life rests in the balance in the fight against the Reapers, any other villain -- even this one -- seems like small potatoes.

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The story line, too, is predictable to anyone familiar with the series. You'll see the twists coming a mile away, and you're bound to guess how the commander escapes the frying pan this time. Still, it's fun to have the entire crew along for the ride instead of sticking to the usual three-person party system.

Once the smoke clears, however, "Citadel" takes a turn for the unorthodox. With the threat neutralized, Shepard gets down to the business of party planning. Sending out invitations, ordering supplies and redecorating the commander's new apartment are all on the menu, but there's a lot to see and do on the Silversun Strip before the big night.

The neon-splashed streets give way to an arcade room with playable mini-games, a casino with several types of gambling and a virtual combat zone where Shepard can participate in a solo version of the ME3 multiplayer, wiping out increasingly difficult waves of bad guys to earn cash and unlock new locations and enemies for the fights. While wandering around the strip, Shepard bumps into several of his companions, both past and present. The commander can also invite friends to his apartment to catch up on old times.

Every living crewmate from the second and third "Mass Effect" games can be invited to the party. Once the music kicks in and the drinks start flowing, "Citadel" becomes a game strictly focused on dialogue. Players who prefer action over conversation are bound to be left disappointed. If you love the series for its writing, however, this DLC is another shining example of BioWare's wonderful gift for storytelling.

Providing much, much more than just a few throwaway lines from each character, the developer goes to great lengths not only to show the crewmates interacting with one another at different stages of the party, but also to allow endearing, private moments with Shepard that flesh out their relationships. The only shame of "Citadel" is that it wasn't part of the original ME3 experience, when hurried goodbyes left many players longing for more meaningful interaction in the story's final chapters.

Whether you love or hate "Mass Effect," there's no disputing this final installment illustrates how much the folks at BioWare care about these characters. NPCs complaining about amateurish tactics in the combat arena, squadmates griping about always being left behind, and repeated jabs at Shepard's terrible dance moves are all inside jokes for fans.

Alternating deftly between hilarious punch lines and emotional moments exploring the complex ties that bind the Normandy's crew together, BioWare shines a bit more light on some of its beloved personalities.

It's a bittersweet feeling saying goodbye to a trilogy that has captivated gamers for more than half a decade. "Citadel" does the job right. It's a touching and beautiful sendoff to one of gaming's greatest adventures.

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